MAROC

Ervaar Maroc

Casablanca is a good place to start on holidays to Morocco. This modern city is the largest in the country and the economic capital. Visitors to Casablanca can visit the largest mosque in the country. The Hassan II Mosque is a recently constructed place of worship with room for over 25,000 people and another 80,000 people in its courtyard.

From Casablanca, visitors can head to Tangier, a beautiful Moroccan port city on the north Atlantic coast whose bohemian charm has captivated some of the most famous painters, poets, writers and musicians in the world. Tangier's beautiful beaches and friendly people make the city a worthy stop.

To get a taste of how Morocco combines the old and the new, visitors can head to Marrakesh. Located here is one of the largest traditional open-air markets in the world, the Djemaa el-Fna. Apart from the usual food and wares, attractions here include snake charmers, acrobats, traditional musicians, dancers and story-tellers.

Right beside the Djemaa el-Fna are several souks. The souk is a traditional Moroccan market selling all sorts of wares. Visitors here can bargain for shoes, clothes, traditional Moroccan clay pots called tagines, teapots, lanterns and a whole lot more.

Les Bains de Marrakech, a bath house, or hammam, is yet another place to visit if you want to experience an old Moroccan tradition. Here, tourists can be bathed and massaged by scrubbers following age-old traditions.

For a more relaxed Moroccan holiday experience, a day spent leisurely strolling or picnicking at the Menara Garden is highly recommended. The garden, with its orchards, groves and lake, has the snow-capped peaks of the Atlas Mountains as a backdrop. Another beautiful garden in the city is the Majorelle Garden.

The historical city of Fes (Fez) is another place worth visiting on holidays to Morocco. Here, visitors can get lost in the maze of streets and alleyways in the old quarter, known as the Medina. A must-see here is the centuries-old leather tannery, whose colourful palette-like vats are used to soak the skins. However, a word of warning, the skins are soaked in pigeon excrement, which means the smell is sure to assault the senses.

Those looking to explore the Rif Mountains may want to head to the stunning, postcard-perfect mountain town of Chefchaouen. For a Sahara desert experience complete with majestic sand dunes and camel caravans, visitors can make Ouzina and Merzouga their jump-off points.

Need to know

The primary language spoken in Morocco is Moroccan Arabic, a dialect of Arabic that is very different from Standard Arabic. While Moroccans study and speak Standard Arabic, it's not the preferred language. Berber, while not officially recognised, is spoken by the Berbers, who are believed to form the majority of the population. French is widely spoken, with Morocco a former French protectorate. Spanish is useful on the northern coast. Some English is spoken by locals, especially in the tourist destinations. However, there are certain phrases that will stand visitors in good stead with locals: 'bismillah' is a blessing used when beginning something, such as a meal. When the task is finished, the correct phrase is 'alhamdulillah'. Visitors might be well advised to familiarise themselves with a few basic words in advance and carry a phrasebook.

Currency

The official currency of Morocco is the Moroccan dirham (Dh). It's best to obtain dirham via ATMs, which are usually found near shopping centres and hotels. Currency exchange is available, but only in banks and other official bureaux. Travellers' cheques are not advisable because exchanging them can be difficult, as banks that accept them are few and far between. Major credit cards are widely accepted by hotels, restaurants and occasionally, stalls in the markets.

Visas

Nationals from a number of countries can enter Morocco visa-free and stay of 3 months. These countries include Schengen countries. Citizens from most EU countries, the UK, the US, Canada and Australia only need to present a valid passport. It is worth ensuring that your passport is stamped on entry, as there have been cases of tourists experiencing difficulty leaving the country, as their passports haven't been officially marked. In addition, the condition of a passport can have some bearing on entry to Morocco, so it's worth checking that any passports to be used are in a good state.

Climate

Due to the size of Morocco and its varying terrain, climate can differ significantly in different areas. A visit to the south of the country and the climate is especially dry and humid, however temperatures can drop drastically in the evening. In most areas, holidaymakers will see temperatures reach highs of 35°C and lows of 5°C, with rainfall most prominent in coastal areas around November to March. If blistering heat is something that you want to avoid, try visiting Morocco in the shoulder seasons of April to May, or September to November.

Main Airports

Mohammed V International Airport servicing the city of Casablanca. It is the busiest airport in Morocco with approximately 8 million passengers passing through the airport each year. The airport is connected to major flight hubs in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. It is also connected to New York and Montreal across the Atlantic.

Flight Options

Carriers in Casablanca fly to London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Frankfurt and many other destinations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Budget airlines operate flights to Morocco, as well as larger charter flights. Typical flight time from London to Casablanca is around 3 hours.

Travel Advice

Those looking to save money can fly to cities in southern Spain, as flights to these cities are usually cheaper than flying direct to Morocco. From Gibraltar and the Spanish ports of Algeciras and Tarifa, there are many ferries servicing ports across the Strait of Gibraltar. The ride takes about 40 minutes to less than 2 hours depending on origin and destination.

Other Transport Options

Arriving by car from southern Spain is also possible. Ferries coming from Algeciras and Tarifa in Spain can take cars to the ports of Ceuta or Tangier. If coming from Tarifa, the ferry ride to Tangier only takes 40 minutes. The land border with Mauritania is open to cars but isn't a popular entry point, while the border with Algeria is closed.